Politicians, 20th Century Ascent
In 1847 Augustus Washington flayed Connecticut for its failure to grant the vote to free African Americans in the state. Although the right to vote eventually came in the 19th century, African American politicians would not win office in the city until the 1950s. In 1906 one of the most audacious runs for office came from Dr. Patrick Henry Clay Arms. Arms, a physician, decided to bolt the Republican Party and run as an Independent Republican candidate. Although he lost the election that year, Arms found a way to promote his practice. Over the years, prominent leaders such as Mary T. Seymour, George Goodman, and Dr. Allen Jackson all made unsuccessful runs for office.
Finally, in 1951 Rev. Robert Moody, pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, won a seat on the school board. A year later, the former veteran of World War I received a stern test. In 1952 the People’s Party made a request host a concert by Paul Robeson at Weaver High School to bolster the upcoming national campaign. With the local citizens watching and listening to the debates about the concert for a communist organization, Moody, who voted with the majority, agreed that Robeson, regardless of his affiliation, had a legal right to sing in Hartford.
Three years after Robeson’s concert, a group of African American leaders approached the powerful local Democratic Party about supporting John Clark, Jr., a highly regarded local funeral director, for the city council. After being rebuffed, this group of African American leaders forged an alliance with the Citizens Charter Committee. An energetic group of leaders hit the streets and helped to elect Clark. The election was a bitter battle with both CCC supporters and democrats arguing that voting irregularities took place. The finally tally led to the election of Clark.
As the years passed, this type of coalition building helped to win seats in the state assembly for Wilfred X. Johnson, Leonard Frazier, Boce Barlow, Jr., Wilber Smith, Carrie Perry, and Thirman Milner. Most African American voters, by the 1950s, remained tied to the Democratic Party. Barlow, a graduate of Howard University and Harvard University Law School, also served a judge in the municipal court. After service on the court, Barlow continued his distinguished career in private practice. In the 1960s, African American voters did cross party lines to vote for Collin Bennett, a West Indian member of the Republican Party. In 1981 Milner was the first African American ever elected mayor of Hartford. After Milner decided not to seek another term, Carrie Perry became the first and only African American woman to be mayor of major city in New England.
Denise Nappier
Boce Barlow
Harvey Woods
Paul Lewis
John Clark
Rev. Robert Moody
Collin Bennett
Richard Battles
Mayor Carrie Perry
Mayor Thirman Milner
Ella Cromwell
Howard Drew